Breaking News: Mets option RHP Jenrry Mejia to Double-A Binghamton

As reported by MLBTradeRumors' Steve Adams:

"ESPN's Adam Rubin reports that the Mets have optioned Jenrry Mejia to Double-A Binghamton, where he will make the transition back into a starting pitcher.

Mejia, still just 20 years old, worked exclusively as a starter across two minor league levels last season, posting a 3.14 ERA in 94.2 innings (19 starts) and notching an 8.7 K/9 to go along with a 3.7 BB/9. So far, pitching out of the New York bullpen in 2010, he's held his own, though he hasn't pitched quite as well as his 3.25 ERA following today's game suggests. He's allowed 15 free passes in just 27.2 innings of work, while striking out 17.

Much has been made of the Mets' starting pitching woes. After receiving next to nothing from the combination of Oliver Perez and John Maine, they've turned to Hisanori Takahashi and R.A. Dickey, both of whom have excelled to this point in their respective rotation roles. However, it's likely a tall order to expect those trends to continue.

Mejia certainly has the makings of a successful major league starter. Baseball America ranked him as the Mets' top prospect coming into the 2010 season, and ranked him as the #56 prospect in all of baseball. So far this season, he's averaged 95.1mph on his fastball, and has a 66.7% ground-ball rate."

So there you have it folks. There was discussion on SNY while I watching today's Yankee game, where the broadcasters were debating what the Mets were going to do with Mejia down the stretch. There was much debate as to would he be a starter or a reliever, and with Mejia not getting enough innings in, the team has decided to send him down to stretch out his arm and prepare him as a starter. A good move by the Mets for their future. I doubt this is the last we've seen of Mejia this season.